Presidential Award Recipients

PAST WINNERS

2024 Presidential Awards:

• Library Personnel – Catherine Newland, Silver Lake Public Library
• Library Advocate – Chad Schuetz, Blackmore Elementary Library
• New Professional – Jeana Lawrence, Chanute Public Library
• Meritorious Service – Carol Levers, Kansas City Kansas Public Library
• Intellectual Champion Award – Daniel Pewewardy, Wichita Public Library
• Best Small Public Library Award in Kansas: Charlene Hedges, Frankfort City Library

2023 Presidential Awards:

• Library Personnel – Cynorra Jackson, Wichita State University Libraries
• Library Advocate – Jamie Curtis, Library District #2 of Linn County Trustee
• New Professional – Erin Verbick, Morrill Public Library
• Meritorious Service – Carolyn Little, Friends of Kansas Libraries
• Intellectual Champion Award – Sharon Mueller, Leavenworth School District 
• Best Small Public Library Award in Kansas: Marion City Public Library, director Janet Marler

2022 Presidential Awards:

• Library Personnel – Pam Atteberry, Independent Township Library
• Library Advocate – Ann Adrian, Newton Public Library
• New Professional – McKenzie Murphy, McPherson Public Library
• Meritorious Service – Martha House, Council Grove Schools
• Best Small Public Library Award in Kansas: Erie City Public Library, director Julie Kent

2021 Presidential Awards:

• Library Advocate – Retia Grant, for the Library District #2 of Linn County – La Cygne
• New Professional – Brandon West, Independence Public Library
• Library Personnel – Gloria Jurado, Emporia Public Library
• Meritorious Service – Roger Carswell, Retired, SEKLS
• Best Small Public Library Award in Kansas: Wellsville City Library, director Becky Dodd

2020 Presidential Awards: 

• Library Advocate – Clarice Hostetler, Dodge City, Kansas
• New Professional – Addison Lucchi, MidAmerica Nazarene University
• Library Personnel – Caroyln Olson, Horton Public Library
• Meritorious Service – Carol Berta, North Central Kansas Library System
• Best Small Public Library Award in Kansas: Atwood Public Library

2019 Presidential Awards: 

• New Professional – Maggie Witte, Talking Book Service, State Library of Kansas
• Library Personnel – Dian Burns, Director of the Bird City Public Library
• Library Advocate – Bill Morris, architect
• Meritorious Service – George and Shelia Blume
• Best Small Public Library Award in Kansas: Hamilton County Library (Syracuse)

2018 Presidential Awards: 

• Library Advocate – Dave Jones
• Library Personnel – Ramie Schulteis
• New Professional – Katherine Jones
• Meritorious Service – Jennifer Schroeder
• Best Small Public Library Award in Kansas: Ashland City Library

2017 Presidential Awards:

• Library Advocate – Don Barry & Nancy Keith
• Library Personnel – Phylis Coomes
• New Professional – Jason Robb
• Meritorious Service – Harry Willems
• Best Small Public Library Award in Kansas: Cimarron City Public Library

2016 Presidential Awards:

• Library Advocates – Rep. Tom Sawyer and Rep. Don Hineman
• New Professional – Sara Dixon
• Library Personnel – Polli Kenn
• Meritorious Service – Chris Rippel
• Best Small Public Library Award in Kansas: Horton Public Library 

2015 Presidential Awards:

• Library Advocate – Senator Pat Pettey
• New Professional – Lauren Hays
• Library Personnel – Rhonda Machlan
• Meritorious Service – Kathy Rippel
• Best Small Public Library Award in Kansas: Hesston Public Library 

2014 Presidential Awards:

• Library Advocate – Richard Crowson
• New Professional – Savannah Ball
• Library Personnel – Julie Tomlianovich
• Meritorious Service – Jim Minges
• Best Small Public Library Award in Kansas: Wamego Public Library 

2013 Presidential Awards:

• Library Advocate – Sue Blechl
• Library Personnel – Charlene McGuire
• Meritorious Service – Marquita Boehnke
• Meritorious Service – Roy Bird
• New Professional – Caleb May
• Best Small Public Library Award in Kansas: Kinsley Library 

2012 Presidential Awards:

• Library Advocate – Dr. Marshall Havenhill
• Library Personnel – Kathleen Morgan
• Meritorious Service – Cindi Hickey
• Meritorious Service  – Donna Lauffer
• New Professional – Kate Wise
• Best Small Public Library Award in Kansas: Garnett Public Library

2011 Presidential Awards:

• Library Advocate – Senator Jean Kurtis Schodorf
• Library Personnel – Jaime Prothro
• Meritorious Service – Fred Atchison
• Meritorious Service- Laura DeBaun
• New Professional – Megan Schulz

2010 Presidential Awards:

• Library Advocate – Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer
• Library Personnel – Marc Galbraith
• Meritorious Service – Cindy Roupe
• Meritorious Service – Lorie Hyten
• New Professional – Heather Braum

2009 Presidential Awards:

• Library Advocate – Vicki Tiarht
• New Professional – Eric Gustafson
• Meritorious Service – Janet Fowler
• Library Personnel – Jean Hatfield

2008 Presidential Awards:

• Library Advocate – Michael Byington
• New Professional – Andrew Evans
• Meritorious Service – Rosanne Siemens
• Meritorious Service – Wichita Public Library Staff
• Lifetime Achievement – Vikki Jo Stewart

2007 Presidential Awards:

• Library Advocate – Craig Penzler
• Library Advocate Statewide – Representative Geraldine Flaharty
• New Professional – Royce Kitts
• Meritorious Conduct – Carol Nazar
• Lifetime Achievement – Jane Hatch
• Library Personnel – Wichita Public Library Staff

2006 Presidential Awards:

• New Professional – Jaime Prothro
• Meritorious Service – Midge Jones
• Library Personnel – Barbara Dew

2005 Presidential Awards:

• Library Advocate – Marge Zachora
• Meritorious Service – Denise Smith
• Library Personnel – Jim Minges

2004 Presidential Awards:

• Library Advocate – Joe Rodriquez
• New Professional – Thomas Reddick
• Meritorious Service – Terry Sartoriour

2003 Presidential Awards:

• Library Advocate – Lois Ruby
• New Professional – Kate Capps
• Meritorious Service – John and Susan Howell
• Meritorious Service – Edwin E. Francis
• Meritorious Service – Staff of Hutchinson Public Library and South Central Kansas Library System
• Library Personnel – John Stratton
• Library Personnel – Leroy Gattin

2002 Presidential Awards:

• Library Advocate – Lt. Governor Gary Sherrer
• Library Personnel – Mona Carmack
• New Professional – Helen Hokanson

2001 Presidential Awards:

• Library Personnel – Jeff Hixon
• New Professional – Heidi Dressler-Kelly

2000 Presidential Awards:

• Library Personnel – Betty Cattrell
• Library Advocate – Robert W. Richmond
• New Professional – Rosalee Ann Pettle

1999 Presidential Awards:

• New Professional – Michelle Rice
• Library Personnel – Freda Dobbins
• Library Advocate – Ellen Miller

1998 Presidential Awards:

• Library Advocate – John & Susan Howell
• Library Personnel – Rowena Olsen

1997 Presidential Awards:

• Library Personnel – Janet Anderson-Story
• Library Personnel – Ray Santee

1996 Presidential Awards:

• New Professional – Patti Mersmann
• Distinguished Librarian – Bruce Flanders & Michael Piper
• Library Advocate – Barbara Wunsch

1994 Presidential Awards:

• Library Personnel – Winnie Lichtenwalter
• Library Personnel – Louise Synder
• Non-Library Person – Charles Engel
• Non-Library Person – David Flask

1992 Presidential Awards:

• Library Personnel – Patricia Gaunce

1991 Presidential Awards:

• Non-library Persons – Julia and Ed Hobbs

1989 Presidential Awards:

• Non-library Person – Judie Doll, editor of Hays Daily News

1987 Presidential Awards:

• Distinguished Service Award – Duane Johnson

1986 Presidential Awards:

• Public Service Citations – Governor John Carlin and State Senator Ross Doyen
• President’s Citation – Betty Kasey